Hull design useful with houseboats

ABSTRACT

A hull design, especially useful for houseboats, has hinged side decks. The hull combines with a trailer to provide a land camping vehicle; and a lowerable roof for such hull, together with the hinged side decks, cooperates to enclose the hull for protection thereof and to shorten the dimensions of the vehicle for purposes of transportation.

United States Patent Hawkins 1 May 16, 1972 HULL DESIGN USEFUL WITH HOUSEBOATS [72] Inventor: Robert D. Hawkins, 115 Stony Hollow Rd., Greenlawn, NY, 11740 [22] Filed: Jan. 5, 9170 [21] Appl.No.: 523

[52] US. Cl. ..9/l R, 114/63 [51] Int. Cl ..B63b 35/00 [58] FieldofSearch ..9/1 T, 1,6,2C,2F,2S;

114/56, 60, 63, 65, 70, 71, 66.5 F, 26, 27, 77 R; 296/23 R, 23 A, 23 B, 23 C, 23 H, 23 MC [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,265,025 8/1966 Haigh et a1. ..9/1 T X 3,325,836 6/1967 Lankford ..9/IR

3,530,519 9/1970 Levinson ..9/] T 3,134,991 6/1964 Levinson ...9/1 T 3,434,166 3/1969 Clymer ..9/l 3,475,773 11/1969 Codman, Jr. ..9/l 2,898,877 8/1959 King ..1 14/60 3,376,586 4/1968 Forsyth et al. ..1 14/71 X Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant ExaminerF. K. Yee Attomey-Robert F. Cody [57] ABSTRACT A hull design, especially useful for houseboats, has hinged side decks. The hull combines with a trailer to provide a land camping vehicle; and a lowerable roof for such hull, together with the hinged side decks, cooperates to enclose the hull for protection thereof and to shorten the dimensions of the vehicle for purposes of transportation.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEI] MAY 1 6 I972 SHEET 1 [IF 4 X INVENTOR.

Robert D. Hawkins BY /fl \M 7 ATTORNEY WITNESS M PATENTED MAY 1 8 I972 SHEET 2 BF 4 WITNESS 41/ PATENTEDHAY 15 I872 3,662, 41 2 sum 3 [1F 4 FIG. 4

I INVENTOR. WITNESS P16. 3 BY T2 'D- l- +a wkins ATTORNEY PATENTEDMAY 16 I972 3,662, 11 2 mm L 0F 4 FIG. 5

INVEN TOR. Robert D Hawkins WITNESS BY 6%; C /7 Km ATTORNEY V7 HULL DESIGN USEFUL WITH HOUSEBOATS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to boats, and in particular to hull designs for houseboats and the like.

2. Description Relative to the Prior Art The magazine Family Houseboating (published by Trailer Life Publishing Company, 10148 Riverside Drive, North Hollywood, California) has, at various times, illustrated a variety of houseboat forms attempting, in various ways, to give versatility (transportability, collapsability, etc.) to houseboats. See, for example, the Spring, 1969, issue of Family Houseboating," page 52. Too frequently, however, the provision of one design feature in a houseboat is the result of the trading off of another design feature from such boat; which means, effectively, that prior art houseboats are to a large extent customized for their respective owners.

The best-known patented prior art may be found in US. Pat. Nos. 1,371,139; 1,355,937; 1,185,494; and 3,126,558.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a roomy boat design which is so intrinsically versatile that it may be used, say, for purposes of speeding or towing water skiers; or it may be collapsed and transported like a camping trailer; and it may, in fact, serve as a camping trailer.

Although there are other aspects of the invention, as will be better appreciated below, what is perhaps the most significant of such aspects is the use of a substantially flat bottomed hull having hinged side decks so disposed proximate the hull bottom that (1) when such decks are extended and locked in place at the water level, the boat becomes spacious and stable, and (2) when such decks are locked against the sides of the hull, such decks not only contain and protect the hull, but facilitate the transportation of such hull in the manner of a camping trailer.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION To provide an improved form of hull design for use with houseboats and the like.

The invention will be described with reference to the figures, wherein FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a boat according to the invention, and illustrates the easy transportability of such boat,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, in elevation, illustrating the floatability of the boat of FIG. 1, FIG. 2 being taken generally along lines 2-2 ofFIG. 1,

FIG. 3 illustrates in perspective a deck locking means which may be employed to accommodate the invention,

FIG. 4 shows additional features of the FIG. 3 locking means, and is taken generally along lines 44 of FIG. 3, and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the boat of FIG. 1, and particularly points out how such boat may be adapted for purposes of camping, etc.

Reference should be had to FIG. 1-4: The hull has a substantially fiat bottom 12, and a deck 13. Preferably, the bottom 12 is provided with a keel l4; and preferably the bow 16 of the hull 10 has some upward taper to prevent plowing in rough water, and while pulling water skiers, etc. The stem 18 of a hull 10 supports a transom 20 to which an outboard motor 22 may be attached.

The hull l0, proximate its bottom 12, supports a pair of hinged outside decks 24,26 which when extended (see FIG. 2) away from the hull, and locked in place, act like Outriggers, and thus stabilize the floatation of the hull 10. The decks 24,26, when extended, are approximately in the same horizontal plane as the deck 13. Access to the decks 24,26 from within hull is via a door 28; and when locked in their extended position, the decks 24,26 are adapted to be walked upon. The bottom 29 of the door 28 is not in the plane of the decks 13,24,26 to assure against swamping the interior of the hull 10.

The hull 10 is provided with hardware 30 to permit winching 32 of the boat upon a car trailer 34.

A top 36 is secured to the hull 10 by means of poles 38; and such poles are supported in brackets 40 so that they, and the top 36, may be lowered, or raised, as indicated respectively in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The hinged decks 24,26 in their presently preferred form are sufficiently wide so that, when the top 36 is lowered, the decks together with such top may handily package therewithin the hull 10 (see FIG. 1). A pivotal latch 42 is provided to lock the side decks 24,26 against the sides of the hull 10.

As best illustrated in FIG. 2-4, hinges 44,46 respectively secure the decks 24,26 to the hull 10 at the bottom 12 (water level L) of the hull 10. To lock the decks 24,26 in their extended position, respective locking means 50 are provided: Each locking means has a handle 52 for axially sliding a rod 54. The rod 54 may be axially slid within brackets 56, thereby to engage, or disengage, respective locks 58 from their staples 59, i.e., lock a respective deck respectively in its extended position, or permit such deck to be swung upward from locking against the hull side.

The hull 10 is provided with bunks 60 (one shown), and such bunks are secured to the sides of the hull 10, by means of hinges 62, and disposed to extend over the said decks 24,26 when such decks are, themselves, locked in their extended positions. Such a design makes maximum use of the available space within the hull 10. Canvas 64, or the like, provides protection for the interior of the hull l0; and also serves to guy the bunks 60.

Boat versatility, as discussed above, is evidenced by FIGS. 1, 2, and 5: FIG. 1 indicates the compact, well-protected, and easily transportable package which forms when the boat top 36 is lowered, and the sides 24, 26 are raised; FIG. 2 indicates how little water is drawn by providing a hull with outside decks, such decks being disposed proximate the hull bottom, thereby to allow for speedy, etc., operation; and FIG. 5 indicates that, by leaving the hull 10 upon a boat trailer, and locking the decks 24,26 in their extended positions (with suitable jacks 70 for purposes of propping) and raising the top 36, the boat serves as a camping trailer.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A vessel comprising:

a. a substantially flat bottomed hull having an approximately water level deck and an approximately water level bottom, the sides of said hull being in watertight relationship with and upstanding from said hull deck, and being adapted to prevent water from washing upon said hull deck,

b. at least two substantially flat side decks disposed on 0pposite sides of said hull, the undersides of said side decks being also substantially flat,

c. means for respectively hinging said decks to the exterior of said hull at approximately the said water level, the undersides of said side decks and the bottom of said hull being all adapted to be normally in contact with water when said vessel floats, and

d. means for selectively locking said side decks either against the exterior of said sides of said hull or in extension away from the said hull sides, said vessel including a top, and means for securing said top over said hull, said means being adapted for selectively raising and lowering the height of said top with respect to said hull; said side decks and top, when respectively locked against the hull sides and lowered, being cooperative with each other to package and protect therewithin said hull.

2. The vessel of claim 1 including at least one bunk, supportable as a cantilever by one side of said hull, and adapted to extend substantially fully over one of said side decks.

3. The vessel of claim 1, in combination with a boat trailer, and means for securing said vessel to said trailer, thereby permit said vessel to be easily transported and used as a camping trailer.

4. A vessel comprising:

a. a substantially flat bottomed hull having an approximately water level deck and an approximately water level bottom, the sides of said hull being in watertight relationship with and upstanding from said hull deck, and being adapted to prevent water from washing upon said hull deck,

b. at least two substantially flat side decks disposed on opposite sides of said hull, the undersides of said side decks being also substantially flat,

0. means for respectively hinging said decks to the exterior of said hull at approximately the said water level, the undersides of said side decks and the bottom of said hull being all adapted to be normally in contact with water when said vessel floats, and

d. means for selectively locking said side decks either against the exterior of said sides of said hull or in extension away from the said hull sides, said decks of said vessel being so sufficiently wide that,

when locked against the sides of said hull, they lie substantially flat against and at least partially cover and protect said hull sides, without materially changing the overall widthwise dimensions of the vessel.

5. The vessel of claim 4 including at least one door in said hull, the bottom of said door being above the level of said side decks when said decks are extended.

6. The vessel of claim 4 including (a) at least one bunk, supportable as a cantilever by one side of said hull, and adapted to extend substantially fully over one of said side decks, and (b) a means for guying the outermost part of said bunk to said top.

7. The vessel of claim 6 wherein the bow of said hull is upwardly tapered, and wherein the stern of said hull is adapted to support an outboard motor. 

1. A vessel comprising: a. a substantially flat bottomed hull having an approximately water level deck and an approximately water level bottom, the sides of said hull being in watertight relationship with and upstanding from said hull deck, and being adapted to prevent water from washing upon said hull deck, b. at least two substantially flat side decks disposed on opposite sides of said hull, the undersides of said side decks being also substantially flat, c. means for respectively hInging said decks to the exterior of said hull at approximately the said water level, the undersides of said side decks and the bottom of said hull being all adapted to be normally in contact with water when said vessel floats, and d. means for selectively locking said side decks either against the exterior of said sides of said hull or in extension away from the said hull sides, said vessel including a top, and means for securing said top over said hull, said means being adapted for selectively raising and lowering the height of said top with respect to said hull; said side decks and top, when respectively locked against the hull sides and lowered, being cooperative with each other to package and protect therewithin said hull.
 2. The vessel of claim 1 including at least one bunk, supportable as a cantilever by one side of said hull, and adapted to extend substantially fully over one of said side decks.
 3. The vessel of claim 1, in combination with a boat trailer, and means for securing said vessel to said trailer, thereby permit said vessel to be easily transported and used as a camping trailer.
 4. A vessel comprising: a. a substantially flat bottomed hull having an approximately water level deck and an approximately water level bottom, the sides of said hull being in watertight relationship with and upstanding from said hull deck, and being adapted to prevent water from washing upon said hull deck, b. at least two substantially flat side decks disposed on opposite sides of said hull, the undersides of said side decks being also substantially flat, c. means for respectively hinging said decks to the exterior of said hull at approximately the said water level, the undersides of said side decks and the bottom of said hull being all adapted to be normally in contact with water when said vessel floats, and d. means for selectively locking said side decks either against the exterior of said sides of said hull or in extension away from the said hull sides, said decks of said vessel being so sufficiently wide that, when locked against the sides of said hull, they lie substantially flat against and at least partially cover and protect said hull sides, without materially changing the overall widthwise dimensions of the vessel.
 5. The vessel of claim 4 including at least one door in said hull, the bottom of said door being above the level of said side decks when said decks are extended.
 6. The vessel of claim 4 including (a) at least one bunk, supportable as a cantilever by one side of said hull, and adapted to extend substantially fully over one of said side decks, and (b) means for guying the outermost part of said bunk to said top.
 7. The vessel of claim 6 wherein the bow of said hull is upwardly tapered, and wherein the stern of said hull is adapted to support an outboard motor. 